Senate progressive accuses Trump of 'mafia-style blackmail' in shutdown fight

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., railed against the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) memo sent to federal agencies this week that outlined a plan to reduce employees across the government beyond those that are typically furloughed.

While the House passed a short-term funding extension last week, Senate Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the bill. The deadline to fund the government is Sept. 30, and so far, no progress has been made to reach an agreement to keep the lights on.

"He is threatening to double down on the failed actions of Elon Musk and his chainsaw - going after patriotic civil servants that provide Americans with critical services - despite having to rehire many of these workers after Americans experienced the negative impact of those cuts," he said.

"These dedicated workers have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the brink of a shutdown," Van Hollen continued. "These threats are not only an attack on Americans' services and benefits, they're also likely illegal. We'll be fighting back with every tool we have."

The OMB's memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, directed that in the event lawmakers cannot pass a funding extension, or continuing resolution (CR) by the deadline, agencies should "use this opportunity to consider Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees" in programs that have no other available funding source and that don't comport with Trump's priorities.

"RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation," the memo read, and would be issued "regardless of whether the employee is excepted or furloughed during the lapse in appropriations."

However, Republicans have pushed back against Democrats' counter-proposal as unserious, and are unwilling to budge on a laundry list of items tossed into their CR, which included permanently extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, repealing the healthcare section of Trump's "big, beautiful bill," and clawing back canceled funding for NPR and PBS.